I have written a previous post on why Christians fear going on mission trips and mentioned that one of the main reasons was the fear from hearing “horror” stories from missionaries and well-meaning Christians when they give their mission reports. This is sometimes done with the “innocent” purpose of attempting to spice up their reports or sometimes to emphasize the difficulties of the mission field to raise more prayer and financial support.
Such stories may scare the more timid Christians from ever going on a mission trip. However, as more and more people travel and as there is more and more information of exotic lands and cultures in today’s media, the influence of horror stories from missionaries becomes less and less. In fact, it is common to hear of Christians joining exotic tour groups to see “holy sights” and other adventurous tours.
Then why is there such a fear of many Christians from going to the mission field, even when they are assured that these mission fields are safe and comfortable places to travel to? Why is it that they would rather spend more to experience some adventure in non-mission tours? Why do faithful obedient Christians not obey the Lord’s call in John 4:35 “to lift up our eyes, to look on the fields” and rather spend their time and money to look at “holy” touristy tombs?
I believe that one of the reasons why most Christians avoid going to look at mission work is the fear of commitment, rather than the fear of travel. They fear that God may convict them of the need for more labourers (Mathew 9:37). They fear that He might convict them of their materialistic life-style. They fear that He might convict them to be more involved in prayer and support for the missionaries.
Basically I believe that they fear to “meet” God in the mission field. They prefer to “lock” Him up in their Bibles, their quiet time and their Bible-studies.
May we desire to meet Him, the Altogether Wonderful God. A visit to the mission field might help!
Our workers and missionaries serving in the campuses of Central Philippines have been busy week after week, visiting schools, proclaiming the Good News to masses of students as well as in room to room preaching and personal witnessing.
Here are the latest updates from our faithful workers on the island of Bohol:
Last week, our team went to the northwest and interior part of Bohol, and approximately 1932 professed… Read More....
Positioning to live within a community – Tim is a tentmaker. For prudent reasons, we cannot divulge his real name or citizenship. He did not go to another country but had to make a cross cultural leap within his own country.
Tim has had a growing burden for the majority people group in his country. In this country, it is against the law for this mainstream people group to… Read More....
A few weeks ago, a co-worker of mine who is married to a Korean Christian worker told me something interesting. She said “Korean missionaries unite around the Gospel but we bring our differences to the mission field and fight over them!”
Koreans are basically a strong militant race. They do not shun a fight. The Korean Christian population is also clearly divided into conservative Presbyterians and exuberant Charismatics. In… Read More.... | 1 Comment
True, it is the fear of committment that many put off going for it.
I just made my maiden mission trip to Cambodia and can safely attest to the presence of God in every moment of our journey.
I have made changes to my leave to accompany my children to Cambodia this DEC. and pray there will be a spot for me to join them as I understand spaces are very limited.
I urged those who are tugging between going or not to have a heart for those planning this trip to minimise logistical nightmares and to be co-operative so that planners/organisers can ensure smooth and prompt planning to be executed.